Flight deck goggle

ABSTRACT

An improved flight deck goggle which accommodates visioncorrecting spectacles or eyeglasses and which may be used with a helmet provided with sound-attenuating earcups is made up of a spherical pantoscopic lens section which is molded from clear impact-resistant synthetic resin with rearward extensions at the sides thereof, thus providing an upper lens section edge which is detachably received in a frame which abuts the wearer&#39;&#39;s forehead to space the upper edge of the lens section from the forehead to tilt the section downwardly to permit the lower edge, having a nose bridge recess therein, to rest on the wearer&#39;&#39;s cheekbones with the side extensions disposed at the temples of the wearer to receive a strap or the like for holding the goggle on the head.

C United States Patent i151 3,691,565

Galonek [451 Sept. 19,1972

i541 FLIGHT DECK GOGGLE FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS [72] inventor: Edward A Galonek Southbridge 649,245 1'/ 1951 Great Britain ..2/14 C Mass- 453,071 1l/l948 Canada.....v ..2/14 N [73] Assignee: Omnitech Inc., Southbridge, Mass. Primary Examiner-H. Hampton Hunter Nov. 25 AOfney-Shenef and OConnor [2l] Appl. No.: 92,680 [57] ABSTRACT An improved flight deck goggle which accommodates vision-correcting spectacles or eyeglasses and which CCII "2/14 u 2/14 may be used with a helmet Vprovided with sound-at- 58 Field 4 D 14 H tenuatxng earcups is made up of a spherical panto- 2/14 K. I4 N14 P, i4 W. i4 XS Clarke et al. .f2/I4 XS scopic lens section which is molded from clear impactY resistant synthetic resin with rearward extensions iii the sides thereof, thus providing an upper lens section edge which is detachably received in a frame which abuts the wearers forehead to space the upper edge of the lens section from the forehead to tilt the section downwardly to permit the lower edge, having a nose bridge recess therein, to rest on the wearers cheekbones with the side extensions disposed at the temples of the wearer to receive a strap or 'the like for holding the goggle on the head.

l2 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures PATENTEDSEHS m12 3,591,555

SHEET 1 0F 3 IN vENToR l Eaf'a/ara Ga/onek 6)/ 271@ @wn/ff Y 2 ATTORNEYS FLIGHT DECK GoGGLE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Many different forms of protective goggles are known in the prior art. Various ones are suitable for use under different conditions to protect the eyes of the wearer. There are a number of special applications for goggles the requirements for which are not satisfactorily met by any of the goggles known in the prior art. One example of such an application is the protection of the eyes of an individual working in an aircraft takeoff and landing area such as the flight deck of an aircraft carrier or in a similar installation. Persons working in such areas customarily wear sound-attenuating earcups to protect their ears from the noise'incident to the operation of aircraft. Such sound-attenuating earcups, which may or may not be associated with a protective helmet,

are bulky and occupy relatively large areas at the sides of the workers head. In addition to the foregoing, some persons working in installations of the type referred to must wear vision-correcting spectacles.

AS is pointed out hereinabove, protective goggles of the type known in the prior art do not successfully satisfy the needs of persons working around aircraft as on carriers or landing fields or the like. Some of the goggles do not provide the wearer with the wide field of vision which is necessary for safe and efficient work. Goggles of the prior art generally are not suitable for use by a person wearing sound-attenuating earcups. They do not accommodate vision-correcting spectacles.

I have invented an improved flight deck goggle which is especially adapted for use by persons working in the vicinity of aircraft. My improved flight deck goggle affords the wearer a wide field of vision. It may be integrated with sound-attenuating earcups worn by flight deck crewmen. It comfortably accommodates visioncorrecting spectacles. My goggle has a lens which is readily replaceable by a tinted lens or the like as required. The lens of my goggle is resistant to abrasion and impact. It is relatively inexpensive for the result achieved thereby. The lens of my goggle may readily be replaced.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION One object of my invention is to provide an improved flight deck goggle especially adapted for use by persons working in aircraft takeoff and landing areas.

Another object of my invention is to provide an irnproved flight deck goggle affording a wide field of vision.

A further object of my invention is to provide a flight deck goggle which can be used by a person wearing sound-attenuating earcups.

Still another object of my invention is to provide a flight deck goggle which will accommodate visioncorrecting eyeglasses.

Yet another object of my invention is to provide a flight deck goggle which is relatively inexpensive to manufacture for the result achieved thereby.

In general my invention contemplates the provision of a flight deck goggle wherein a spherical pantoscopic lens section, is molded` fromV clear impact-resistant synthetic resin with rearward extensions so as to provide an upper edge which is detachably received in a horizontally disposed frame which spaces thel lens from the wearers forehead and which rotates it downwardly to cause the lower edge, formed with a nose bridge recess, to rest on the wearers cheekbones with the side extensions at the wearers temples so as to receive a strap or the like in securing the goggle in place.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the accompanying drawings which form part of the instant specification and which are to be read in conjunction therewith and in which like reference numerals are used to indicate like parts in the various views:

FIG. l is a front elevation of my improved flight deck goggle in position on the head of a person wearing a helmet provided with sound-attenuating earcups.

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of my flight deck goggle in position on the head of a person wearing a helmet having sound-attenuating earcups.

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the lens molding of my flight deck goggle.

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the assembly of the frame and lens of my flight deck goggle.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view through my flight deck goggle.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of a portion of my flight deck goggle taken along the line `6-6 of FIG. 4 and drawn on an enlarged scale.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of my improved flight deck goggle taken along the line 7-7 of FIG. 2 and drawn on an enlarged scale.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to FIGS. l to 5 of the drawings my improved flight deck goggle indicated generally by the reference character l0 is adapted to be worn by a person 12 who is equipped with a protective helmet 14 carrying respective sound-attenuating earcups 16 and 18 of any suitable type known to the art and held on the wearers head by any suitable means. Since the assemblies 16 and 18 per se form no part of my invention, they will not be described in detail. It will readily be apparent, however, that the assemblies are `relatively bulky and that they `occupy a relatively large area around the ear of the wearer.

The assembly l0 includes a lens section 20 which is molded from any suitable clear impact-resistant materi al such for example as a polycarbonate resin. I mold the lens section 20 as to provide a spherical lens area having respective rearward extensions 22 and 24 at the sides of the section 20. I form the upper edge 26 of the lens section 20 adjacent the center thereof `with a snap lug 28. Similarly, the upper edges of extensions 22 and 24 are provided with respective snap lugs 30 and 32. Openings 34 and 36 in the side extensions 22 and 24 receive fittings to which the ends of a strap may be secured in a manner to be described.l The lower edge 38 of the lens 20 is formed with a recess 40 for receiving the bridge of the wearers nose in a manner to be described. The mold elements in which I injection mold the lens are highly polished by optical finishing techniques to ensure surface continuity, a smooth surface finish and lack of distorted areas in the finished part. After molding the lens is coated with a. mar-resistant coating of any suitable type known to the art.

My goggle also includes a frame indicated generally by the reference character 42 having a spacer portion 44 which is generally horizontally disposed in use of the goggle as will be described hereinbelow. The forward edge of the spacer portion 44 is provided with a downwardly extending flange 46 behind which I form respective guides 48 and 50 extending downwardly from the underside of the spacer portion 44. Flange 46 extends entirely along the front of the frame 42 and rearwardly along the sides of the frame to the rear edge thereof. l form another pair of guides 52 and 54 ad jacent the rear edge of the spacer 44 at locations spaced from flange 46 and extending downwardly from the underside of the spacer. I provide a spacer 44 with respective openings 56, 58 and 60 into which the respective lugs 28, 30 and 32 are adapted to snap. The frame 42 is injection molded from any suitable material such as impact-resistant polypropylene.

From the structure thus far described it will be apparent that the lens section and the extensions 22 and 24 may be assembled with the frame 42 by snapping the lugs 28, 30 and 32 into openings 56, S8 and 60 so that the upper edge 26 of the section 20 is disposed between the forward portion of flange 46 and guides 48 and 50 and so that the upper edges of the extensions 22 and 24 are located between the respective side portions of flange 46 and the guides 52 and 54.

Referring now to FIGS. 4 and 6, I form the spacer 44 with respective housings 62 each of which has an opening 64 leading into the interior of the assembly of the frame 42 and the lens section 20. Spring washers 66 retain filter pieces 68 within the housings under the openings 64 so as to ventilate the space within the assembly while preventing foreign matter from entering the space. For example, the pieces 68 may be made from polypropylene screen.

I form the rear edge of the spacer 44 with an upwardly extending flange 70 which is adapted to receive a molding 72 formed from a suitable soft and resilient material such as natural or synthetic rubber to form a seal against the wearers head when the goggle is in use. If necessary an adhesive may be employed to retain gasket or molding 72 in position.

The lower edge 38 of the lens section 20 is reduced in cross sectional thickness so as to receive another gasket 74 which extends completely around the edge 38 from the upper edge of extension 22 of a way to the upper edge of extension 24. This gasket is adapted to extend over the bridge of the wearers nose and into engagement with the cheekbone area of the face so as to form a seal therewith. Any suitable means such as fasteners 76 may be used to hold seal 74 in place on the lens. From the structure described so far it will be clear that with the goggle on the wearers head the periphery thereof fits closely against the wearers face. Nevertheless the filters 68 and 80 provide adequate ventilation while preventing the entry of foreign matter into the space enclosed by the goggle.

I snap respective filter housing and connector elements, each indicated generally by the reference character 78, into the openings 34 and 36 in the sides 22 and 24 of the lens. Snap rings 80 retain polypropylene screens 82 in the housing 84 of the members 78. Each of the members 78 is formed with a boss 86 carrying a flange 88 to permit a castoff strap connector 90 to be releasably engaged with the boss 86 under the retainer flange 88. A length of strap 92 of any suitable material connects the fastener element 90 to a ring 94 which receives one end of an elastic strap 96. Strap 96 permits the goggle l0 to be releasably positioned on the wearers head. It will be seen that the lengths 92 extend over the respective sound-attenuating earcups 16 and 18.

In manufacturing my goggle 10, I first mold the lens section 20 and its sides 22 and 24 by an injection molding process using highly polished mold members. Preferably l mold the lens from impact-resistant polycarbonate. After molding the lens section I coat the surface with any suitable mar-resistant coating and form the openings 34 and 36 therein. Next, I injection mold the frame 42 from impact-resistant polypropylene. The various filters 68 and the connecting members 78 are applied to the frame and the lens 20 is releasably assembled with the frame by inserting the snap lugs 28, 30 and 32 into the openings 56, 58 and 60. Next, the gasket 72 is attached to the frame and gasket 74 is applied to the lens 20 by any suitable means such as by snap fasteners 76 or the like.

In use of my goggle, the elastic length 96 is placed V around the back of the helmet or the like 14 and the connectors 90 are applied to the bosses 86 to position the goggle on the wearers head. In this position, the frame spacer portion 44 spaces the upper edge of the lens 20 from the wearers forehead effectively to rotate the lens downwardly until the lower edge thereof carrying the seal 74 rests against the cheekbones of the wearer. In this position, as indicated in FIG. 2, the wearer has a good range of vision downwardly while at the same time the lens assembly does not interfere with vision upwardly. Moreover, as shown in FIG. 4, a full range of peripheral vision is afforded the wearer from his centers of vision indicated by the points X. lf for any reason it is desired to replace the lens 20, such as to apply a tinted lens, the section 20 may easily be disengaged from the frame and a new tinted lens of the same construction be snapped into the frame.

It will be seen that I have accomplished the objects of my invention. I have provided an ampjoved flight deck goggle which is especially adapted for use by persons working in aircraft takeoff and landing areas. My goggle affords the wearer a wide range of vision downwardly and upwardly as well as from side to side. It comfortably accommodates vision correcting spectacles or eyeglasses. lt can be used by a person wearing sound-attenuating earcups. It is relatively inexpensive to construct for the result achieved thereby. The lens of the goggle may be replaced in a simple and expeditious manner. The interior of my goggle is adequately ventilated though the periphery of the goggle fits closely against the wearers face.

It will be understood that certain features and subcombinations are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and subcombinations. This is contemplated by and is within the scope of my claims. It is further obvious that various changes may be made in details within the scope of my claims without departing from the spirit of my invention. It is, therefore, to be understood that my invention is not be limited to the specific details shown and described.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

l. A protective goggle including in combination a pantoscopic lens section having a double curvature to provide a generally spherical configuration said lens section being elongated in a direction transversely of a wearers head, said lens section having upper and lower edges, a frame for receiving the upper edge of said lens section, said frame being provided with a spacer extending rearwardly from said upper edge, and means for retaining the assembly of said lens section and said frame in position on the wearers head with said spacer in engagement with the forehead of the wearer to space the upper edge of the lens section away from the wearers head, the curvature of said lens section and the spacing provided by said spacer being such as to position said lower edge closely adjacent to the cheekbone regions of the wearer s face to afford the wearer a wide field of view through said lens upwardly and downwardly and to the left and to the right while fully protecting the wearers eyes against injury by foreign bodies.

` 2. A protective goggle as in claim 1 in which said lens section is formed from impact-resistant synthetic resin.

3. A protective goggle as in claim 2 in which said resin is a polycarbonate resin.

4. A protective goggle as in claim 1 in which said means for assembling said lens section and said frame comprises manually releasable mean.

5. A protective goggle as in claim l in which said means for assembling said lens section and said frame comprises means forming a recess extending along the front of said spacer for receiving said upper edge, openings in said spacer at the base of said recess and snap lugs on said upper edge adapted releasably to engage in said openings.

6. A protective goggle as in claim 1 in which said lens section has a lower edge formed with a recess for receiving the wearers nose to permit said lower edge to fit closely against the wearers face.

7. A protective goggle as in claim 1 in which said lens section has a lower edge formed with a recess for receiving the wearers nose to permit the lower edge to fit closely against the wearers face when the goggle is donned, said goggle including a first seal, means mounting said first seal at the rearward edge of said frame spacer, a second seal and means for securing said second seal along the lower edge of said lens section.

8. A protective goggle as in claim 7 including means for Ventilating the space enclosed by the assembly of said frame and said lens section when in position on the wearers head.

9. A protective goggle as in claim 8 in which said Ventilating means comprises a housing providing an opening formed in said spacer, a piece of screening and means for retaining said screening in said recess.

10. A protective goggle as in claim 1 including rear` ward extensions at the sides of said lens section and connector elements on said extensions.

l1. A protective goggle including in combination a pantoscopic lens section having a double curvature to provide a generally spherical conguration having an upper edge and a lower edge formed with a recess for accommodating the bridge of the wearers nose, said lens section being formed from transparent impact-resistant synthetic resin, said lens section being provided yvitli sidi? of said resin said sides extending rearwarlly rom sai section and having upper edges, a frame or receiving the upper edges of said lens sections and said sides, said frame being provided with a spacer extend ing rearwardly of said lens section upper edges between the upper edges of said side, means for manually releasably assembling said lens and said frame, and means for retaining the assembly of said lens and said frame on the wearers head with the rear edge of said spacer against the wearers forehead to space the upper edge of the lens section away from the wearers head, the curvature of said lens section :and the spacing provided by said spacer being such as to position said lower edges closely adjacent to the cheekbone regions of the wearers face to afford the wearer a wide field of view through said lens section upwardly and downwardly and to the left and tot the right while fully protecting the wearers eyes against injury by foreign bodies.

12. A protective goggle as in claim l1 including respective seals along the upper edges of said lens section and said sides and along the lower edge of said lens section and means for Ventilating the space enclosed by said assembly when said goggle is in position on the wearers head. 

1. A protective goggle including in combination a pantoscopic lens section having a double curvature to provide a generally spherical configuration said lens section being elongated in a direction transversely of a wearer''s head, said lens section having upper and lower edges, a frame for receiving the upper edge of said lens section, said frame being provided with a spacer extending rearwardly from said upper edge, and means for retaining the assembly of said lens section and said frame in position on the wearer''s head with said spacer in engagement with the forehead of the wearer to space the upper edge of the lens section away from the wearer''s head, the curvature of said lens section and the spacing provided by said spacer being such as to position said lower edge closely adjacent to the cheekbone regions of the wearer''s face to afford the wearer a wide field of view through said lens upwardly and downwardly and to the left and to the right while fully protecting the wearer''s eyes against injury by foreign bodies.
 2. A protective goggle as in claim 1 in which said lens section is formed from impact-resistant synthetic resin.
 3. A protective goggle as in claim 2 in which said resin is a polycarbonate resin.
 4. A protective goggle as in claim 1 in which said means for assembling said lens section and said frame comprises manually releasable mean.
 5. A protective goggle as in claim 1 in which said means for assembling said lens section and said frame compriseS means forming a recess extending along the front of said spacer for receiving said upper edge, openings in said spacer at the base of said recess and snap lugs on said upper edge adapted releasably to engage in said openings.
 6. A protective goggle as in claim 1 in which said lens section has a lower edge formed with a recess for receiving the wearer''s nose to permit said lower edge to fit closely against the wearer''s face.
 7. A protective goggle as in claim 1 in which said lens section has a lower edge formed with a recess for receiving the wearer''s nose to permit the lower edge to fit closely against the wearer''s face when the goggle is donned, said goggle including a first seal, means mounting said first seal at the rearward edge of said frame spacer, a second seal and means for securing said second seal along the lower edge of said lens section.
 8. A protective goggle as in claim 7 including means for ventilating the space enclosed by the assembly of said frame and said lens section when in position on the wearer''s head.
 9. A protective goggle as in claim 8 in which said ventilating means comprises a housing providing an opening formed in said spacer, a piece of screening and means for retaining said screening in said recess.
 10. A protective goggle as in claim 1 including rearward extensions at the sides of said lens section and connector elements on said extensions.
 11. A protective goggle including in combination a pantoscopic lens section having a double curvature to provide a generally spherical configuration having an upper edge and a lower edge formed with a recess for accommodating the bridge of the wearer''s nose, said lens section being formed from transparent impact-resistant synthetic resin, said lens section being provided with sides of said resin, said sides extending rearwardly from said section and having upper edges, a frame for receiving the upper edges of said lens sections and said sides, said frame being provided with a spacer extending rearwardly of said lens section upper edges between the upper edges of said side, means for manually releasably assembling said lens and said frame, and means for retaining the assembly of said lens and said frame on the wearer''s head with the rear edge of said spacer against the wearer''s forehead to space the upper edge of the lens section away from the wearer''s head, the curvature of said lens section and the spacing provided by said spacer being such as to position said lower edges closely adjacent to the cheekbone regions of the wearer''s face to afford the wearer a wide field of view through said lens section upwardly and downwardly and to the left and to the right while fully protecting the wearer''s eyes against injury by foreign bodies.
 12. A protective goggle as in claim 11 including respective seals along the upper edges of said lens section and said sides and along the lower edge of said lens section and means for ventilating the space enclosed by said assembly when said goggle is in position on the wearer''s head. 